sonata or koolance pc2-650bk

[poly4life]

Hey guys, I'm trying to decide on one of two cases to buy (no, they're not a chieftec or Lian-Li - those cases are not THAT great, although the Lian-Li I saw the other day, where the PSU was at the bottom of the case, was rather beautiful). It's either the Sonata or the Koolance PC2-650BK. The thing is, though, I'm not sure if I need water cooling or not. If I do get water cooling, should I get the Koolance or the Sonata with a water cooling kit, such as the one from Corsair or one from Swiftec or Koolance?

And on that note, what water cooling solution do you guys recommend? Which companies do you trust most? I had my heart set on the Zalman water cooling kit, until I found it silence doesn't mean superb water cooling. What about the one from Corsair?

Thank you.

-P4C800-E Deluxe Mobo
-P4 3GHZ 800MHZ FSB,
-dual-channel DDR400 PC3200 sticks (that's two)
-SATA 250GB HDD and PATA 40GB HDD
-530W Fortron Source PSU
-AIW Radaeon 9800 Pro
-Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
-Plextor PX-708A and Sony DDU-1621 DVD drives
-Floppy drive

 

[Crashman]

I haven't tried other brands, but I should have an Asetek review up in a couple days at <A HREF="http://www.sysopt.com" target="_new">Sysopt</A>

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[jammydodger]

If you go for a watercooling kit with a dual rad it will be a very tight sqeeze in that Antec case, you will prob have to mount it outside.

The asetek kits are great for begginners and still have very good cooling performance. The zalman kits are purly for silence, but will still prob be better than air..I just have no idea where I would put that HUGE radiator that comes with the zalman kits.

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[_WW_]

I just have no idea where I would put that HUGE radiator that comes with the zalman kits.

Hows about piping it through the floor and installing the radiator in the crawl space...nice and cool down there.

Maybe you could connect it to the heat pump on your house too..heh heh..


....WW (5.0)

 

[jammydodger]

Dont think my dad would appreciate me ripping up the floor in my house.

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[poly4life]

Hey, did you check out these two cases from Cheiftec and Lian-Li (respectively, of course)?

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040607/miditower-12.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040607/miditower-32.html

 

[poly4life]

Well, I had always planned on mounting a water kit outside; I prefer external. I know the Antec is a tight squeeze, but that's what makes it a good challenge, although the word "challenge" maybe an overstatement. Since I plan on overclocking just about everything, starting with the CPU, and without sufficient water cooling, the Antec Sonata will go from slient to violent.

But if I want a water cooling kit (which I do), maybe I should just get the Koolance. The main problem, again, is which one would offer superior cooling.

If I really wanted the best, I can buy the $900 water cooling kit, with a temperature of -25 centigrade at around 300W. I just wish I remember the name.

 

[jammydodger]

of -25 centigrade at around 300W. I just wish I remember the name.

errrr.... water freezes at 0 degress C.


<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[Crashman]

Those kits in the $900 range are refrigerated, not water. They use an evaporator block, not a water block. They use a compressor, not a pump.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[_WW_]

I think if I were to go to all the trouble to install liquid cooling I would have to use some exotic coolant...like good Irish whiskey or Kentucky bourbon maybe!

....WW (5.0)